Work underway to sharpen school strategy

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has welcomed the outcome of the recent focused inspection by Ofsted.

Inspectors visited 15 East Riding schools during 13 to 22 May and have written to the council to outline their findings, which are positive.

The inspection found the vast majority of the schools had retained or improved on the results of a previous inspection and the East Riding has no inadequate schools.

This is in contrast to the results of focused inspections in some other areas.

In addition, the inspection of the East Riding also included 12 telephone interviews with headteachers of good and outstanding schools, in which they were asked how well the local authority supports its schools and challenges them to improve.

Ofsted’s letter to the council says the improvement of more than one third of the schools inspected, and the sustaining of outstanding practice in one other school, gives cause for optimism and reflects well on the hard work of the senior leaders, teachers and pupils since their last inspection.

It identifies the real strength of the council in working with schools that are less effective or causing concern.

It praises the impact of the school improvement officers for their effective support.

Other aspects which are positively identified are the work of the schools’ finance team, the effective school review and improvement policy, the clerking of governing bodies and the support, brokered by the local authority, from national, local and specialist Leaders in Education in a ‘school to school’ support role.

The letter also identifies a number of areas for improvement, which the council is already taking measures to address..

Councillor Julie Abraham, the council’s portfolio holder for children, young people and education, said: “I am pleased with the helpful feedback from Ofsted which, alongside the recommendations that will emerge from the ongoing scrutiny review of schools’ performance will help us to deliver the excellent teaching and learning opportunities that every East Riding child deserves.”

Alison Michalska, director of children, family and adult services said: “The council welcomes the feedback from Ofsted and I am confident that the work already well underway to sharpen our strategy will support all schools getting to good or better.”

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